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On p. 33, he mentions that Susan's maiden name was Susan Otchis, she was from the San Fernando Valley area, and her family was Jewish. On 62-63 he mentions they split up around early 1985 while he was stationed in Burundi (which is where he had met Jacqueline, whom he married in July 1986). That's about all the background he gives on her in his book. A Los Angeles Times article from August 24, 1990, mentions she was living in the Los Angeles area at that time:

"Joe was used to the slower pace of small countries in Africa," said a friend who visited Wilson and his French-born wife, Jackie, in Iraq. . .Born in Connecticut, Wilson spent most of his teen-age years abroad. His father was a journalist overseas, mostly in Paris, where the younger Wilson learned the language and developed a love of everything French. According to Bryant, Wilson began calling California home after receiving a bachelor's degree in history from UC Santa Barbara. His two children by a previous marriage live in the Los Angeles area, and his mother in Palm Springs.

His father was a journalist overseas, mostly in Paris, where the younger Wilson learned the language and developed a love of everything French.

That almost says it all. Great article!

This stuff drives me crazy. These do not describe the same person.
Which one is myth, and why?

LA Times, Aug 24, 1990:

Born in Connecticut, Wilson spent most of his teen-age years abroad. His father was a journalist overseas, mostly in Paris, where the younger Wilson learned the language and developed a love of everything French. According to Bryant, Wilson began calling California home after receiving a bachelor's degree in history from UC Santa Barbara.

Financial Times, Oct 4, 2003 p13

The son of journalists, Mr Wilson was raised in California and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara - a place with its share of people who fit Mr Wilson's description of himself as "a former hippie, surf bum and ski bum".